United States
Environmental Protection
Agency
Office of Wa.ter
460.1
EPA 811-F-95-003 x-C
October 1995
National Primary _
Water Regulations
Pentachlorophenol
This is a factsheet about a chemical that may be found in some public
or private drinking water supplies. It may cause health problems if
found in amounts greater than the health standard set by the United
States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). >
DRINKING WATER
STANDARDS:
MCLG:
MCL:
ZERO
1 PPB
WHAT is
PENTACHLOROPHENOL
AND HOW IS IT USED?
WHY is
PENTACHLOROPHENOL
BEING REGULATED?
WHAT ARE THE
HEALTH EFFECTS?
Pentachlorophenol (PCP) is a white organic solid with needle-like crystals and
a phenolic odor. The greatest use of pentachlorophenol is as a wood preservative
(fungicide). Though once widely used as an herbicide, it was banned in 1987 for
these and other uses, as well as for any over-the-counter sales.
The list of trade names given below may help you find out whether you are using
this chemical at home or work.
In 1974, Congress passed the Safe Drinking Water Act. This law requires EPA
to determine safe levels of chemicals in drinking water which do or may cause
health problems. These non-enforceable levels, based solely on possible health
risks and exposure, are called Maximum Contaminant Level Goals.
The MCLG for pentachlorophenol has been set at zero because EPA believes
this level of protection would not cause any of the potential health problems
described below. . . ,
Based on this MCLG, EPA has set an enforceable standard
called a Maximum Contaminant Level (MCL). MCLs are set as
dose to the MCLGs as possible, considering the ability of pubJic
water systems to detect and remove contaminants using suitable
treatment technologies.
The MCL has been set at 1 part per billion (ppb) because EPA
believes, given present technology and resources, this is the
lowest level to which water systems can reasonably be required
to remove this contaminant should it occur in drinking water.
These drinking water standards and the regulations for ensur-
ing these standards are met, are called National Primary Drinking
Water Regulations. All public water supplies must abide by these
regulations.
Short-term: EPA has found pentachlorophenol to potentially
cause the following health effects when people are exposed to it
at levels above the MCL for relatively short periods of time:
damage to the central nervous system
Long-term: Pentachlorophenol has the potential to cause the
following effects from a lifetime exposure at levels above the
TRADE NAMES AND
SYNONYMS:
PCP
PENCHLOROL
DOWICIDE 7
PERMASAN
FUNGIFEN
GRUNDIER
ARBEZOL
LAUXTOl
LlROPREM
CHLON
DURATREET II
SANTOPHEN 20
WOODTREAT
PENTA READY
PENTAWR
FoRPEN-50
ONTRACKWE
HERBICIDE
ORTHOTRIOX
OSMOSE WPC
WATERSHED WP
WEED AND
BRUSH KILLERH
October 1995
Consumer Version
Printed on Recycled Paper
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MCL: reproductive effects and damage to
liver and kidneys; cancer.
Production of pentachlorophenol was 45
million lbs in 1983. It may be released to the
environmentas a result of its manufacture,
storage, transport, or use as an industrial
wood preservative. -
From 1987 to 1993, according to EPA’s
Toxic Chemibal Release lnventoTy, releases
to land and water totalled nearly 100,000
lbs. The most widespread releases were
primarily from wood preserving industries
in many states. However, the greatest vol-
ume of releases occurred at a military mu-
nitions plant in Nevada.
When released to soil or water, PCP will be slowly broken down by microbes
and may gradually leach into ground water. If released in water, it will adsorb to
sediment, or be degraded by sunlight. Its accumulation in fish will be moderate.
The regulation for pentachlorophenol became effective in 1992. Between 1993
and 1995, EPA required your water supplier to collect water samples every 3
months for one year and analyze them to find out if pentachlorophenol is present
above 0.04 ppb. If it is present above this level, the system must continue to
monitor this contaminant. .
If contaminant levels are found to be consistently above the MCL, your water
supplier.must take éteps to reduce the amount of pentachlorophenol so that it is
consistently below that level. The following treatment methOds have been
approved by EPA for removing pentachlorophenol: Granular activated charcoal.
If the levels of pentachlorophenol exceed the MCLI I ppb, the system must
notify the public via newspapers, radio, TV and othermeans. Additional actions,
such as providing alternative drinking water supplies, may be requiredto prevent
serious risks to public health.
RELEASES TO WATER AND LAND:
1987 TO 1993
Water Land
TOTALS (in pounds) 18.700 79,780
Top Five States
NV 0 64,100
OR .. 4,313 5,405
WA 3,310 5,995
AR 2,735 1,615
GA 783 1.255
Major Industries
Explosives 0 34,100
Wood preserving 17,720 15,678
Misc. chemicals 250 30,000
• WaterlLand totals only include facilities with
releases greater than a certain amount - usually
1000 to 10,000 lbs.
How MUCH PENTACHL.O-
ROPHENOL
IS PRODUCED AND
RELEASED TO THE
ENVIRONMENT?
WHATHAPPENS To
P EN TA CHLOROPHENOL
WHEN ITIS RELEASED TO
THE ENVIRONMENT?
How wiu.
PENTACHLOROPHENOL
BE DETECTED IN AND.
REMOVED FROM
M DRINKING WATER?
How wiu. I ,rj4ow IF
PENTACHLOROPHENOL IS
IN MY DRINKING WATER?
Learn more about.your. drinking Water!
EPA strongly encourages. people to learn more Your state Department of Health/Environment is also a
abouttheirdrinkingwater, andtosupportlocalefforts valuable source of information:
to protect and upgrade the supply of safe drinking For help in locating , ,these agencies or for information on
water. Your water bill or telephone book’s govern- drinking water in general, call:
ment listin s are a good starting pOiflt. EPA’s Safe Drinking Water Hotline: (800) 426-4791.
Your local water supplier can give you a list of the For additional information on the uses and releases of
hemicaIs they test for in your water, as well as how chemicals in your state, contact the:
your water is treated. . .. . Community Right-to-Know Hotline: (800) 535-0202.
October 1995
- Consumer Version
Paae2
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